Energy Unplugged by Aurora

EP.68 Peter Cramton, Professor of Economics at the University of Cologne

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen is joined by Peter Cramton, Professor of Economics at the University of Cologne to discuss the future of power markets. Peter is one of the world’s foremost experts on electricity systems economics, he’s been a leading thinker in market design across energy, telecommunications and health procurements in the US, Europe and beyond. Since 1983, he has conducted research on auctions and market design, with a focus on the design of complex markets to best achieve goals. Between 2015-2021, he was an independent director of the board of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).John and Peter discuss:•Whether privatisation of parts of the power markets worked globally in the sense that enhanced human welfare •The meaning and targets for decarbonisation in Europe vs the US•Security of supply and the impact of the recent events in ERCOT on capacity markets and energy only marketsSupport the show

EP.67 Toni Volpe, CEO of Falck Renewables

Our Market Lead for Italy - Matteo Coriglioni speaks to Toni Volpe, CEO of Falck Renewables. Toni has been the CEO of Falck Renewables since 2016 and he started working in the energy industry at the Enel Group in 2004, where he covered several roles such as CEO of Enel Green Power North America in 2005 and Country Manager and CEO of Enel Romania in 2014. Falck Renewables is one of the biggest “pure players” in the European renewable energy sector, the Group has an installed capacity of 1.3 GW in UK, Italy, Spain, France, the Nordics and the United States, a project pipeline of more than 4.5 GW and manages around 4 GW of plants around the world (in more than 40 countries) on behalf of third parties; mostly wind onshore and solar.Matteo and Toni discuss:•The future of the energy transition and Falck Renewables’ strategy in terms of expanding to new markets and technologies•The role of policy in decarbonisation and renewables development•The impact of the Next Generation EU fund in accelerating the energy transition in EuropeSupport the show

EP.66 Andrew Doyle, Executive Director MUFG

Our Research Director Richard Howard speaks to Andrew Doyle, Executive Director MUFG. Andrew joined MUFG in March 2011 following the acquisition of a US$5bn project finance portfolio from RBS. He has over 15 years of project finance experience covering large thermal power and renewables projects across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. This is one of a series of episodes featuring energy transition leaders who will be speaking at our Spring Forum 2021. The Forum takes place in London on Wednesday 29th September. For more information go to auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/.Richard and Andrew discuss:•Hydrogen and business models that are emerging and how and when they will become bankable•By when will green hydrogen be cheap enough to compete with grey and blue hydrogen•The most attractive markets in Europe for hydrogen•Whether the UK Hydrogen strategy is ambitious enoughSupport the show

EP.65 Christoph Torwegge, International Energy & Utilities Sector Leader Osborne Clarke

Our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig speaks to Christoph Torwegge - International Energy & Utilities Sector Leader at Osborne Clarke. Christoph leads a cross-border team advising clients across the energy sector on renewables, energy storage and energy innovation. He specialises in M&A and commercial law and supports funders, investors and developer clients in developing, investing in and financing projects in the renewables (solar, onshore wind and hydro) and other infrastructure sectors. This is one of a series of episodes featuring energy transition leaders who will be speaking at our Spring Forum 2021. The Forum takes place in London on Wednesday 29th September. For more information go to auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/.Hanns and Christoph discuss:•The role of lawyers in the energy transition•Renewables transactions and changes in the legal frameworks governing renewables•Areas for reform and where the law needs to change to reflect commercial realities on the groundSupport the show

EP.64 Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE

We have a very special episode for you this week on Energy Unplugged. Our CEO John Feddersen is talking to Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG about the role of the world’s largest utilities in decarbonising society.This is one of a series of episodes featuring energy transition leaders who will be speaking at our Spring Forum 2021. The Forum takes place in London on Wednesday 29th September. For more information go to https://auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/. John and Markus discuss:•RWE’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2040 and the impact of such a commitment •The ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and how do we synchronize the investments cycles •EU’s climate ambition and what do we need to do to achieve the targets, where do we get the space for renewables and how can we accelerate planning and permitting processesSupport the show

EP.63 Anna Skarbek, CEO of ClimateWorks Australia

Our Managing Director in Australia - Hugo Batten is joined by Anna Skarbek, the CEO of ClimateWorks Australia, a not-for-profit decarbonisation think tank. Anna has been the CEO of ClimateWorks Australia for almost 12 years now and she has had a number of Board roles in Australia, from CEFC to Impact Investment Group to the Carbon Market Institute. She has been hugely influential in Australia’s decarbonisation debates, and has certainly carried the torch when things were darkest in Australia’s long journey towards Net Zero.Hugo and Anna discuss:•The recently released IPCC report and its impact in Australia•Decarbonisation debates in Australia over the last decade and the current status•Solar & solar thermal storage technologies as dominant drivers of decarbonising the power systemSupport the show

EP.62 Bruce Riley – Managing Director, Infrastructure and Project Finance at NatWest

In this episode, our CEO John Feddersen is joined by Bruce Riley – Managing Director for Infrastructure and Project Finance at NatWest. The focus of the show is the evolving role of project and infrastructure finance in the energy transition. Bruce leads one of Europe’ largest and most influential energy infrastructure and project finance teams and he’s a veteran in Europe’s project finance industry, having spent his career entirely with Royal Bank of Scotland – NatWest. John and Bruce discuss:•How has project finance as a field changed over the past two and a half decades•The relevance of renewables low carbon finance for NatWest loan book & long term climate commitments •Financing coal assets and how decisions are made within the bank to not lend against a particular area on ESG groundsSupport the show

EP.61 Ed Birkett, Policy Exchange & Rachel Fletcher, Octopus Energy

Ed Birkett, Senior Research Fellow in the Energy and Environment unit at the Policy Exchange & Rachel Fletcher, Director Regulation and Economics at Octopus Energy join our Research Director Richard Howard for this week’s Energy Unplugged episode. The conversation focuses on the challenges around energy market design in a Net Zero world. Ed wrote a report last year called ‘Powering Net Zero - Why local electricity pricing holds the key to a Net Zero energy system’ which tackled the energy market design topic. Rachel is an experienced executive and regulatory expert, she spent many years at Ofgem in senior roles in retail markets, consumer protection, smart grids and networks, before moving to Ofwat as CEO and then more recently she has returned to the energy sector at Octopus Energy. Main topics include: •Is the current market design for power, gas, hydrogen and heating fit for purpose?•Will it deliver and enable the transition towards Net Zero? And if so, will it do so at the least costs for consumers?•How can we ensure security of supply and network operability, make sure we keep the lights on in a Net Zero worldIf you'd like to hear more about this topic join our in-person Aurora Spring Forum on Wednesday 29 September 2021 in Central London, where we will continue the discussion on market design to enable the Net Zero transition. More info available here: https://auroraer.com/events/spring-forum/Support the show

EP.60 Alexander Voigt, CEO of STOFF2 & Board Member and Founder of HH2E

Our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig speaks to Alexander Voigt, CEO of STOFF2 & Board Member and Founder of HH2E. Alexander is one of the pioneers of the global energy transition. He has studied physics and started his career at an engineering bureau working on solar thermal solutions. He has founded several companies in the energy sector such as Solon in the solar space, Younicos in the battery space, Lumenion in the high temperature heat storage space, and STOFF2 & HH2E in the hydrogen space. Hanns and Alexander discuss:•Alexander’s journey and solar wind as a niche topic in the past•New technologies and concepts in the energy transition from battery & heat storage to hydrogen•Hydrogen economics and CO2 prices •Regulations needed to make the energy transition workSupport the show

EP.59 Sopna Sury, Chief Operating Officer for Hydrogen at RWE Generation SE

Our Head of Commissioned Projects in Central Europe, Hanns Koenig is joined by one of the key executives in European hydrogen - Sopna Sury, Chief Operating Officer for Hydrogen at RWE Generation. Previous to the current role, Sopna spent ten years in roles that have spanned leading Strategy and Regulatory Affairs at RWE Renewables, Energy Services and Infrastructure at Uniper, and Business Development at E.ON Climate and Renewables. Before entering the energy sector, she completed a bank training, then studied economics and joined McKinsey, where she spent almost 10 years. Hanns and Sopna discuss:•Sopna’s professional journey and the reasons for which RWE has a board member for hydrogen •The role of hydrogen in the energy transition and why is everybody getting excited about it•The controversial use of hydrogen in sectors such long distance road transport and heating•RWE’s hydrogen strategy and its role in this pretty crowded marketSupport the show